Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli works out at the team's Tampa, Fla. complex on Tuesday. Cervelli will explain his link with Biogenesis on Wednesday. / The Star-Ledger, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

TAMPA, Fla. - New York Yankees All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who once again will be questioned by Major League Baseball regarding his reported involvement with performance-enhancing drugs, will remain in New York and not be with the team during spring training, manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday.

Rodriguez's absence has nothing to do with minimizing distractions in the Yankee camp, Girardi said, but simply to be with specialists to treat his hip in hopes he returns after the All-Star break.

"Him being in New York has nothing to do with trying to get rid of a distraction,'' Girardi said. "It's the best place for him to be, in New York rehabbing under the doctor's supervision.

"If there comes a point where he's able to do more, that will change. But at this point, he's barely on the crutches - almost off - there's not a lot he can do here.''

Girardi, along with several Yankee players like ace CC Sabathia, said that the Yankees' reported link to performance-enhancing drugs won't be a distraction this spring. Rodriguez, along with catcher Francisco Cervelli, were linked to a South Florida wellness clinic, Biogenesis, that allegedly provided performance-enhancing drugs to athletes.

Rodriguez denied the allegations in the Miami New Times report, and Cervelli said that he received legal supplements from the clinic. Cervelli said Tuesday that he will further address his role with Bigoenesis on Wednesday.

Girardi has had several conversations with Rodriguez during the winter, he said, but never specifically addressed performance-enhancing drugs. Major League Baseball officials said they plan to speak to Rodriguez once they obtain more information.

"I didn't really talk about that,'' Girardi said, "because I know that MLB has to go through what they have to go through. MLB has to go through its steps before any of us are really going to be aware of anything.

"My concern is getting him healthy, that's what I'll focus on. That's what our team is focused on, is to get him healthy.''

Yet, when asked if Girardi were curious about the allegations, he said: "You're always curious about things you read about that are potentially damaging to your players and to baseball, of course.''

Rodriguez, whose locker in spring training is nearly barren, containing only a uniform and a few pair of shoes, still could find himself as a continuing focus point of the spring despite never setting foot in camp. He is the game's highest-paid player, with $114 million remaining over the next five years, and it's unknown when, or if, he'll return this season.

"This club is used to having what people might call distractions,'' Girardi says. "There are things that happen very day in life that you have to deal with. And you just deal with it and go on. You walk on the field, and you put your thoughts coming into your head, that aren't part of the game, and you go do your job.

"Our guys do that. They're used to doing that. I don't think I've ever come to a Yankee camp where there hasn't been what something called a distraction. So this club is used to it.

"Dealing with some of these distractions, a lot of times it's a two-day event, three days, and the story kind of goes away. It may change for a day or two, but there will be something else that will come up that we have to deal with.''

The Yankees may be more worried about how it could affect Cervelli, who is battling to become the Yankees' starting catcher this spring in the absence of Russell Martin. He politely told reporters Tuesday that he plans to address the allegations in a group interview session Wednesday, and explain why he got involved with self-acclaimed biochemist Tony Bosch.

"I want our players to go to our people as much as they can,'' Girardi said, "but you know that's not always going to happen. The important thing is if you see outside opinions, they need to be wise opinion, and you probably need to discuss it with your club.

"At times, you can't control what players are going to do, because everyone is looking to become better, as a player. The important thing is you do it the right way. I had a physical trainer that I went to for 15 years, and it worked for me, so I stuck with him.''